Three Israeli soldiers and Egyptian border guard killed in shooting in southern Israel

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian officer were killed in a shooting involving an Egyptian border guard on the southern Israeli border on Saturday, officials said, reported AP.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the fighting began overnight when soldiers thwarted an attempt to smuggle drugs across the border. He said that several hours later, two soldiers at a guard post were shot and killed. Their bodies were found after the shooting when they did not respond to radio communication.

Hecht said the killings appear to be related to the thwarted drug smuggling attempt. The army said an Egyptian border guard was killed in a separate exchange of fire in which a third Israeli soldier was killed.

The Egyptian army said an Egyptian border guard crossed the border security barrier and exchanged fire with Israeli forces while pursuing drug traffickers. The statement said the Egyptian border guard was killed along with three Israeli soldiers. 

Hecht said an investigation is underway in full cooperation with the Egyptian army. He said soldiers are searching for other possible attackers.

It was the first deadly exchange of fire along the Israeli-Egyptian border in more than a decade.